The Lemming Archive

Monday, 1 January 2024

Editors Instagram - May 2026

Rehearsals have been continuing for Editors' imminent tour dates, which officially begin on the 18th of June in Roubaix. A date, we should note, which has already sold out. The question at the forefront of my thinking, and probably yours too, is how the new songs will sound live. We've already had some solo and two-person acoustic versions of The Hills We Died Upon and Call It In respectively, that have been shared online from Tom's recent tour. As we know, however, that's not how they will sound when six people are playing them. For instance, the studio take of You Are Fading is wildly different when compared to its live renditions, and that was when it was being handled by a quartet back in the day. More personnel means a louder more beautiful noise.

As for other new compositions to look forward to, we have a clip featuring a brand new one called Life is a Joke in Candlelight which you can watch here. The video is short but had the potential to reveal a lot more than it actually did. The band were filmed in their rehearsal space and if you look you can see a whiteboard in the room with them. Traditionally, they have the proposed set list on that board. It's how we were able to discern some of the the song selection for the EBM tour back in May of 2022, as this post details. Unfortunately I think they got wise to our obsessive sleuth tactics and the new video gives us nothing, and believe me I've looked!

There will be an interesting overlap of duties, with Tom appearing as an Editor in June before he returns as a solo player for Werchter at the beginning of next month. Then after the 11th of July, at No Borders Festival, the chapter titled "Tom's Solo Adventures" will be closed. Not forever, not necessarily, but certainly for the time being. I wonder if the set lists currently being formulated will include any solo-interludes, or if it will be meticulously compartmentalised to keep both eras separated?

In other news, Elliott took a trip to Berlin and there was also evidence of him possibly working on a soundtrack of some description. All while watching an old Richard Gere movie.

Before I go, take note of this man's name for reference later on:-

Antony Szmierek

He may be a friend of the band, he may be a contributor on the new record or he could be a future support act. It's also possible that it's a combination of one or more of those options. We shall see...

Editors Instagram - May 2026
download here

For all of Editors' previous Instagram posts, go here.

brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x

Life is a joke in candlelight (detail)

From a rehearsal room in the middle of a heatwave, here's about 40 seconds of a brand new Editors song. The caption that accompanies this burst of almost ambient joy reads "Life's a joke in candlelight". It's unclear if this is in fact an actual title, or just another grumpy proclamation from a band with a certain notoriety for being a little...sad at times.

What we do know from watching and listening to this is that, along with the recently released Call It In, at least two songs on the new Editors record are going to be faster numbers. We can also see that Nic Willes is taking an active role in the rehearsals, which you would assume to mean that he is once again a touring Editor.

As I mentioned above, these was a heatwave in the UK when this was filmed as evidenced by a barefoot and fancy-free Mr Smith. I guarantee you that if he set up an OnlyFans account called "Forlorn Feet" and posted nothing but his trotters all day long, he could manifest generational wealth. With, of course, 50% of the profits coming my way (it was my idea, after all).

Enjoy the tease ;)

stream it here

brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love ;) x

Editors Instagram - April 2026

A lot can happen in 30 days.

In April, Tom's solo tour slowed down to accommodate a temporary pause. While that was happening the beginnings of his transition back into being an Editor were set in motion. Call it in was released on the 28th of April by way of a reintroduction. When I first saw the song title, I thought it was the headline of a journalistic hit-piece. There's a phrase, "phoning it in" which is applied pejoratively to indicate doing something with a low level of enthusiasm. That was what I thought was going on, that "Editors call it in" was a four word review of the band's new music. Had it been the case then this would, in my opinion, have been an incorrect assessment.

Historically, the lead singles for Editors' albums have always been fast paced. They have only come in over five minutes in length twice, with Smokers and Heart Attack, so in that respect there is consistency. Call it in is not the low-key return as a first single that a song like, for example, No Harm was which came out prior to In Dream's release. This has pop hooks from the outset, and a brevity of just getting in and getting out within 4 minutes.

The video for the single was directed by Justin Lockey featuring all 5 Editors possessing a collective reduced mobility, playing the song in a basement somewhere in flickering lights. All the while, Tom is very mindful of something to his right. There's nothing flashy, and the overall feel of the clip is one of claustrophobia and sheltering in place, but from what? Of course Call it in reveals minimal information as to the direction of Editors' as yet untitled new album. One single often informs us of very little when projecting what the collection of new songs will sound like. We do know that Blanck Mass is not involved this time around, meaning we essentially revert back to the procedures and practices that created the Violence album. Editors as a five piece unit creating collectively, with more input from some of the key players that may have been reduced during the EBM sessions.

There's been a well crafted effort to harness and extend the momentum generated by Tom and his solo album. Even he is due to go back out on the road in May, the band have already placed new markers on the horizon to allow the dusk of Tom Smith being outside of Editors to slowly fade into the dawn of a new Editors record. There are also tour dates over at the official website:-

https://www.editors-official.com/tour/

There's also news and views on the band's forum:-

https://editors-forum.boards.net/

In light of this almost seamless roll from one situation into another, I trust that Tom and those around him have a handle on the importance of his health. He has essentially undertaken what amounts to two back-to-back promotional cycles, which could last in total about 3 years when it's all done. That's quite the workload. If you've been around long enough here you'll know that just over a decade ago he experienced some health issues which meant that Editors had to cancel an entire United States tour. It illustrates the fact that, as much as we don't tend to apply it to performers and artists, they're inescapably human.

There is a gap between Editors' summer shows and their next tour proper, but there will be rehearsals to do and also other promotional duties that will accompany the new album's release. Additionally, he's still raising a family and so collectively you have an awful lot of spinning plates to be kept moving. Hopefully, everyone is mindful of that.

As you'd expect, given everything that's happening right now with the band, the zip file this month is pretty big. There is a lot of great stuff within it, however, making it worth your time. Enjoy ;)

Editors Instagram - April 2026
download here

For all of Editors' previous Instagram posts, go here.

brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x

Tom Smith - Belgian Hymns - 16th April 2026 (Hannah's Recording)

Live from the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Belgium, here's Tom and Nic serenading the local parishioners with some acoustic creations. This show was recorded by the architect of Editors online forum, Hannah. Many thanks go out to you for sharing, H. It's appreciated.

It's crazy how big the sound is during this show, mostly due to the size and design of the venue itself. It's massive, with lots of space and huge ceilings. I imagine that a Sunday service here would be quite an imposing experience. These stunning acoustics are none more evident between numbers when you can actually hear the audience talking back to Tom. For example, just before The Phone Book someone replies to a wellness check from the stage with "Your music is warming us up".

There's a little bit of real-time situational awareness just before The Weight, where the reality of there being no bar in this church is determined to be not such a bad thing after all. Purely from the viewpoint of...personal relief.

Once again, before The Hills We Died Upon is played Tom does some quite deliberate fan-teasing through his subtle use of language. In particular his use of the word "probably". Will this song be on E8 or is it destined to appear only as a bonus track on, say, the Japanese edition? Or maybe it will vanish, only ever having been heard by one fan. Dream Dark as Your Heaven...long gone but still not forgotten. Or heard. By any of us.

#not bitter

Enjoy the music ;)

stream it here

MP3s

Deep Dive - download here

How Many Times - download here

Endings Are Breaking My Heart - download here

All the Kings - download here

The Weight - download here

Life Is for Living - download here

Honesty - download here

No Sound but the Wind - download here

Souls - download here

Broken Time - download here

The Phone Book - download here

What Is This Thing Called Love - download here

Northern Line - download here

An End Has a Start - download here

Blood - download here

Leave - download here

Munich - download here

Ocean of Night - download here

Papillon - download here

It Ain't Me, Babe - download here

The Hills We Died Upon - download here

Lights of New York City - download here

Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors - download here

All in a Zip - download here

brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love ;) x

Tom Smith - Amsterdam 11th April 2026 (Sanne's recording)

First and foremost, many thanks to friend of the Archive Sanne for sharing this recording. If you consider yourself to be an Editors fan, let me introduce you to the concept of there being levels to this game. Sure, you can buy the records and go to the shows, but what if you could persuade Tom Smith to draw you, say, a radio? What if you were then to commit that sketch to your forearm as a tattoo in the name of permanent fandom? Not only that, you'd get Frank Carter of Gallows to put it on your skin? Levels, people.

Sanne was there on the night Tom and Nic played Amsterdam, 11th April 2026 and this is what she heard. You'll notice there are a few minor bumps and bruises along the way sound wise but, for me anyway, that's all part of the fun in listening to bootlegs. Their studio-based cousins are there forever. This is all about capturing elusive fragments of history before they evaporate. Thanks again, Sanne.

A mobile phone goes off during the Deep Dive which, given their prevalence in modern culture, I'm shocked hasn't happened at some point already. We've had people sneezing, beer bottles going rogue and house lights randomly coming on but no mobile phone incidents. Weirdness. In amongst the banter from the stage there's a lovely, brief little anecdote about the sound guy for this show relating to the venue itself. There's also a very, very rare "Tom changes his mind about swearing" instance right before Lights of New York City. On recent nights he's been a little more direct about what he and Nic will be doing once the last two songs have been played, but not this time.

The story of Editors just would be consistent if there wasn't some ambivalence about their future intentions. Just before The Hills We Died Upon we get a status update from Tom about the new record. We know that this song is going to be on Editors' 8th album...or do we? Unlike gigs prior to this one, where it was stated that it would be on the record, here it is allocated the label of "probably". Yes sir, nothing says certainty like ambiguity.

New, from the people who brought you "maybe" and "perhaps" comes the stunning new fragrance, "PROBABLY". Now you too can smell like you just aren't sure. Damn you Mr Smith!

We know that these shows are intimate, but it's still striking how imposing the ambient silence in the room is. During Endings are Breaking my Heart, for example, it sounds like they're playing alone in a rehearsal room. It also makes the set feel as though it's been designed and directed in an incredibly bespoke, personal way to an audience of one. I don't know if that's how it felt if you were in attendance, but taken as a second hand consideration after the fact, it still possesses that magic.

The overriding question is, after listening, did you fall in love with Nic Willes? Come on, be honest...

Enjoy the music ;)

stream it here

Bonus Material - The Weight (video)

stream it here

brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love ;) x

Editors Instagram - March 2026

Tom and Nic hit the road again in March, taking in a series of venues around Europe. You can check out some of the gigs by using the links below:-

The Hills we Died Upon - Cologne 11th March 2026

Schorndorf 13th March 2026 - Herr Steppsch recording

Tom Smith - Warsaw 23rd March 2026 (Maciek's Recording)

Tom Smith - Hamburg 26th March 2026 (Sven's Recording)

The second batch of tour dates will begin in Belgium on the 8th of April and, as I've said elsewhere, you should get out there and spend an evening with the guys. Primarily because it's a good time with two musicians who really compliment each other's playing, but also because we're heading into the twilight of Tom's solo adventure. The quiet intimacy you'll get right now will not be here much longer. Editors are on their way back soon and unless they all unanimously decided to make the new record an unplugged affair, unlikely but possible, then the current calm will be replaced by wonderful noise. Also, unless he takes a Dave Grohl style tumble from the stage (heaven forbid), Tom will definitely not be as immobile on stage as he is currently.

Included in this month's collection of photos and videos are some test shots taken by Edith Bowman for the There is Nothing in the Dark album covers, featuring a cameo from River the dog. There were also some more snaps from Justin and also some hints from Elliott that he's working on some recordings of his own. You may remember that he previously stepped away from Editors to undertake some solo work of his own under the Y.O.U. moniker back in 2014. Maybe he's branching out on his own again?

Editors Instagram - March 2026
download here

For all of Editors' previous Instagram posts, go here.

brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x

Tom Smith - Hamburg 26th March 2026 (Sven's Recording)

You know it's the good stuff when Sven is taping.

Here's another contribution from a long time friend of the Archive, Sven. This time he was present at Tom's show in Hamburg on the 26th March 2026, and luckily for us he was recording the event. Many thanks again to you, Sven for passing this along. We appreciate it ;)

This was a set from the end of Phase 1 of what is Tom's 2026 solo tour in support of There is Nothing in the Dark That Isn't There in the Light. As refined and fluid as Nic and Tom's musical abilities may be, you just never know when the universe will attempt to force a sharp left turn in the proceedings. Something to put an unnatural stop in an otherwise smoothly running activity. With that in mind, I'll let Sven describe what went down on this particular night.

There were also a couple of funny moments during the show. I think it was during “Broken Time” when a beer bottle tipped over mid-song. On the church’s stone floor, you really couldn’t miss it. Tom casually added a quick “oops” into the lyrics, and Nicholas started laughing so much that they had to stop and restart the song (you can hear me very loud laughing) .

During “An End Has a Start,” the house lights suddenly came on. The look on his face… priceless. Then he just went with it and sang the fitting line:

“Someone hit the light ’cause there’s more here to be seen” – and everyone cracked up.

The quality of Sven's recording means you can really hear that occasion of bottle meeting floor, and the subsequent laughter that accompanied it.

The next block of solo dates will be kicking off soon, and then there will be a slow wind-down to Tom once again becoming an Editor. I wonder if these smaller, intimate shows have perhaps evoked memories of a time when this was normality; when Editors were enough of an unknown quantity to be able play pubs and stare down the audience, as opposed to selling out the Ziggo Dome and gazing at them from a short distance? Will the return to larger stages during the summer festivals be a shock or a comforting return to familiarity?

Overall, I imagine there may be fleeting spells of disorientation, given that he's essentially doing the opposite of what Editors did prior to changing their touring behaviour after the first three albums; reducing the schedule to preserve both their sanity and their creative abilities. At the end of the EBM tour in 2024, Editors went offline. In September 2025 Tom went out on the road again to promote There is Nothing in the Dark, something he has done sporadically now for about 8 months. On paper, that looks like a year off between tours but of course he was recording the album during that time. Next, if Editors really are releasing their next record in 2026, then that record industry clock of a year and half to two years of promotional commitments will start again. Just in time to follow on from Tom's individual pursuits.

Granted, there have been "comfort breaks" like the one we are currently in, meaning it hasn't been as relentlessly grinding as the Back Room and AEHAS tours were. Even so, there have been rehearsals and recording of new Editors material during those prior rest interludes, meaning Tom's work momentum has never really fully dissipated for a good few years. You might say, there have been few instances of pure Nothingness.

If you haven't been out to see the fellas yet, go show them some love. These special evenings of being able to appreciate the songs in such enclosed spaces will probably be going away very, very soon. Enjoy the music ;)